URL: /faq/ Schema: FAQPage (Rank Math auto-generates from the FAQ Gutenberg block — verify in Google Rich Results Test before publish) Total questions: 38 across 9 clusters Voice: Warm + direct + specific + honest (Wren v2.0 standard)
ANCHOR NAVIGATION (top of page)
- Ordering & quotes
- Pricing & payment
- Allergens & dietary
- Pickup & delivery
- Event planning
- Custom cake process
- Wedding cakes
- Modifications & changes
- About the bakery
1. ORDERING & QUOTES {#ordering-quotes}
How far in advance do I need to order?
Lead times by product:
| Product | Minimum lead time |
|---|---|
| Cupcakes, Cake Pops, Dessert Party Packs | 1 week (7 calendar days) |
| Custom Cakes (single tier) | 2 weeks (14 days) |
| Sweet Tables, Candy Tables | 2 weeks (14 days) |
| Custom Cakes (multi-tier) | 4 weeks (28 days) |
| Wedding Cakes | 60 days (30 days possible at our discretion) |
During peak months (May, June, October, November, December), book even further out — popular weekends fill 8-12 weeks ahead.
See also: Terms of Service
Do you take last-minute orders inside the minimum lead time?
Sometimes — depending on calendar availability and the complexity of the order. Rush orders carry a surcharge. Email erinn@designsbyerinn.com with your event date and what you have in mind; I’ll tell you within a business day whether I can fit it in.
How do I get a quote for a custom cake or wedding cake?
Two paths:
- Custom cake quote — use the contact form and select “Custom cake quote.” I’ll reply within 1-2 business days with a short questionnaire (guest count, theme, flavor, dietary). After your answers, I send a written quote in 3-5 business days.
- Wedding cake consultation — same form, select “Wedding cake consultation.” Quote turnaround is 5-10 business days for weddings (more design time).
How long is a quote good for?
14 calendar days from the date the quote is sent. After 14 days, the quote expires and ingredient costs may have changed. If you need longer, ask for an extension in writing.
How do I confirm an order?
For direct-checkout products (cupcakes, cake pops, party packs, sweet/candy tables): you select options at checkout and pay the 50% deposit. The deposit confirms the order.
For quote-flow products (custom cakes, weddings): I send a quote with a deposit payment link. The 50% deposit confirms the order. The date is not held until the deposit clears.
2. PRICING & PAYMENT {#pricing-payment}
How is pricing structured?
- Custom cakes start at $120 and scale with size, complexity, and decoration. Most custom cake projects land between $180 and $400.
- Cupcakes, cake pops, and dessert party packs have fixed pricing visible on the shop — no quote needed.
- Sweet tables and candy tables are priced by tier (4′, 6′, or 8′ tables); see those product pages for transparent pricing.
- Wedding cakes are quote-driven. Most weddings range from $400 to $1,500+ depending on tier count, design complexity, and finish.
All prices are exclusive of Virginia sales tax (added at checkout). Delivery is mileage-based with a $20 minimum, calculated from Newport News. Sweet tables and candy tables include on-site setup and teardown in the per-guest price; delivery is still calculated and charged separately.
What payment methods do you accept?
- Credit and debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) — via Stripe
- PayPal
- Apple Pay and Google Pay — via Stripe
- Cash — accepted for the balance payment only, at pickup or delivery. The 50% deposit must be paid electronically.
We don’t accept personal checks, money orders, or cryptocurrency.
When is the balance due?
7 calendar days before your event date. You’ll get an automatic balance reminder by email (and SMS if a phone number is on file). If the balance is not paid by the due date, we send a follow-up reminder; if still unpaid 3 days before the event, we may cancel the order per our Terms.
Is the deposit refundable?
The 50% deposit is non-refundable EXCEPT before “work begins” on your order. “Work begins” by product category:
- Cupcakes / Cake Pops / Dessert Party Packs: 7 days before event
- Sweet Tables, Candy Tables, Custom Cakes (single tier): 14 days before event
- Custom Cakes (multi-tier): 21 days before event
- Wedding Cakes: 30 days before event
Cancel before this date = full deposit refund. Cancel after = deposit forfeited.
See also: Cancellation & Refund Policy
Are there extra fees I should know about?
- Delivery — mileage-based from Newport News, $20 minimum. Applies to all delivered orders (baked goods, dessert party packs, sweet tables, candy tables, wedding cakes).
- Rush surcharge — applies if we accept an order inside the standard lead time.
No hidden fees. Everything is itemized in your quote or at checkout.
3. ALLERGENS & DIETARY {#allergens-dietary}
What allergens are in your kitchen?
Always present: dairy, eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts. Sometimes present: wheat, soy, and sesame.
Because we operate a shared home kitchen under Virginia Cottage Food Law, cross-contamination is possible despite our care and cleaning protocols. We cannot guarantee that any product is 100% free of any allergen. Erinn holds a ServSafe Manager certification — the same food safety training required of commercial kitchen managers — covering allergen handling, cross-contact prevention, and sanitation protocols.
See also: Allergen Information
Can you make a gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free cake?
Yes, with advance notice. We can accommodate many restrictions:
- Dairy-free buttercream — available with advance notice; price may differ slightly due to ingredient cost
- Nut-free orders — produced on a separate day with deep clean prior; still can’t guarantee zero cross-contamination
- Gluten-free cakes — available for many flavors; lead time may extend by 2-3 days for ingredient sourcing
- Vegan — limited menu; ask
- Keto or sugar-free — limited menu; ask
For each accommodation, we’ll ask you to confirm in writing that you understand cross-contamination is possible.
What if I have a severe (anaphylaxis-level) allergy?
Cottage bakeries are not the right fit for severe allergies that require a certified allergen-free facility. If you or a guest has a life-threatening allergy that requires zero cross-contamination, please order from a certified-allergen-free bakery instead. For severe allergies, call us first — don’t order through the site. We’re happy to share recommendations.
Will the food be labeled with allergen info?
Every order ships with a packaging card listing the allergens present in that specific batch. For sweet tables and candy tables, we provide a printed allergen card for the table.
4. PICKUP & DELIVERY {#pickup-delivery}
What areas do you deliver to?
We deliver across Hampton Roads: Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, York County, and Poquoson.
If your venue is outside this area, email us with the address and we’ll let you know if a custom delivery is feasible.
How does pickup work?
Pickup is from our home kitchen — we are not a retail storefront, so please don’t drop in unannounced.
Once your balance is paid, we share the pickup address and a 60-minute pickup window. When you arrive, text the number we provide and we’ll meet you at the front door.
How much does delivery cost?
Delivery is mileage-based with a $20 minimum, calculated from our Newport News kitchen to your venue. The delivery fee appears as a separate line item at checkout (for direct-checkout products) or on your quote (for custom cakes, wedding cakes, sweet tables, and candy tables).
Sweet tables and candy tables include on-site setup and teardown in the per-guest price — delivery is still calculated and charged separately.
For venues outside Hampton Roads, email us with the address and we’ll quote the trip.
How does delivery work?
Once your balance is paid, we confirm a delivery window 24-48 hours before your event. The customer is responsible for:
- Providing an accurate delivery address
- Ensuring someone is available to receive the order during the window
- Providing safe access to the delivery location
If no one is available to receive the order at the venue, we contact you to coordinate next steps. We handle missed deliveries case-by-case based on the situation.
Do you set up sweet tables and candy tables at the venue?
Yes — sweet tables and candy tables include on-site setup and teardown in the per-guest price. Delivery is calculated and charged separately (mileage-based, $20 minimum from Newport News). The customer provides:
- Accurate venue address, contact, and access instructions
- A table or surface of the correct size (4′, 6′, or 8′ per your tier)
- Access to the setup area at the scheduled setup time
Standard teardown happens at the event’s scheduled end time. Late teardown may incur an additional fee.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes — minimums vary by product:
- Cupcakes — by the dozen (12 minimum)
- Cake Pops — 6 minimum
- Custom Cakes — start at $120
- Sweet Tables — Classic $350 / Deluxe $500 / Luxury $800 minimum
- Candy Tables — Classic $150 / Deluxe $350 / Luxury $600 minimum
- Dessert Party Packs — by the dozen, multiple tiers available
Each product page lists the full pricing and quantity options.
Can I pick up the order at a different time than scheduled?
If you arrive within 30 minutes of the scheduled window, no problem. More than 30 minutes outside the window may affect product quality (especially for cakes that should be refrigerated until close to serving). We are not responsible for quality issues caused by late pickup beyond the 30-minute grace period.
If your plans change, email us as far in advance as possible — we can often adjust.
5. EVENT PLANNING {#event-planning}
How big a cake do I need for my event?
A rough guide:
| Guests | Cake size |
|---|---|
| 10-12 | 6″ round (single tier) |
| 20-30 | 8″ round (single tier) |
| 40-50 | 10″ round, or 8″+6″ two-tier |
| 60-80 | 12″ round, or 10″+8″ two-tier |
| 100+ | Two- or three-tier custom design |
Servings depend on slice size — these numbers assume standard dessert-portion slices. For weddings, we calculate cake-eating count separately from total invited.
What’s the difference between a sweet table, candy table, and dessert party pack?
- Dessert Party Pack — a curated dessert assortment delivered in bulk packaging for a self-serve setup at your event. Best when you’re doing your own table styling. Tiers based on dozen counts.
- Sweet Table — a curated assortment of cakes, cupcakes, mini desserts, cake pops, etc. delivered and set up at your venue. We do the styling. Tiers based on table size (4′, 6′, 8′).
- Candy Table — a curated selection of candy and confections delivered and set up at your venue. We do the styling. Tiers based on table size (4′, 6′, 8′).
Sweet tables and candy tables are “white-glove” — we handle delivery, setup, styling, and teardown. Dessert party packs are “delivery-only” — you handle the table styling.
How are items packaged?
Items that travel and stay in a guest’s hand or treat bag are individually wrapped:
- Cake pops — cellophane bag tied with ribbon
- Chocolate-covered cookies, rice krispy treats — individually wrapped
- Dessert party packs — every item individually wrapped by default; loose presentation available on request
Items served from a display (cakes, cupcakes, brownie bites, macarons, candy in apothecary jars) are presented unwrapped for the visual effect, with serving tongs or scoops provided.
Custom packaging colors or branded labels for wedding favors and themed events trigger a custom quote — say so in the design notes.
Can I order a cake and a dessert party pack together for the same event?
Yes — common for baby showers, birthdays, and milestone events. The custom cake is the focal point; the dessert pack provides variety.
Do you do corporate or B2B orders?
Yes. We work with HR teams, office managers, and executive assistants on team events, holiday parties, client appreciation, retirement, and milestone celebrations. We can issue invoices for corporate purchasing.
For corporate inquiries, use the contact form and select “Press, partnership, or other” with “Corporate inquiry” in your message.
Can you handle a 100+ guest event?
Yes. Sweet tables and candy tables scale up to 8′ (largest tier). Custom cakes can scale to multi-tier designs serving 100+ guests. Wedding cakes regularly handle 100-200 guest counts.
For very large events (200+), book early and expect a consultation rather than a self-serve quote.
6. CUSTOM CAKE PROCESS {#custom-cake-process}
How do I describe a cake I want?
Send 3-5 reference images (Pinterest pins, photos, screenshots — whatever you have) along with:
- Theme or occasion — birthday for a 5-year-old, anniversary, baby shower, etc.
- Color palette — primary, accent, anything to avoid
- Style direction — “rustic naked-cake” vs. “elegant smooth fondant” vs. “playful and bright”
- Specific elements — banner with a name, sugar flowers, hand-painted details, sculpted figure, etc.
- Flavor preferences — or “open to suggestions”
We work from visual references better than verbal descriptions — even a quick Pinterest board helps a lot.
Can you recreate a cake I saw online?
We’ll do our best to capture the style and feel of a reference cake, but we won’t make an exact copy of another baker’s work — that’s their design. We always put our own interpretation on it.
Can you put a Disney character, sports team logo, or cartoon character on the cake?
No — we don’t reproduce trademarked or licensed artwork (Disney characters, sports team logos, copyrighted illustrations, brand mascots).
What we can do instead: design “inspired by” the same theme — same color palette, same vibe, same aesthetic, but with our original illustration. For a princess theme, that might mean a tiara and castle without a specific Disney princess. For a sports theme, that might mean team colors and a generic ball without the team logo.
If you have authorized artwork (you own the IP, or you have written licensing), share documentation and we can discuss.
How many flavors can I have in a custom cake?
For a single-tier cake: 1-2 flavors total (cake flavor + filling flavor).
For a multi-tier cake: a different flavor per tier is an option, and a popular choice for weddings.
Allergen-accommodation orders may have flavor restrictions based on what we can produce safely.
Can I taste flavors before I order?
Yes — paid tasting sessions are available for custom cake and wedding orders. The tasting fee is $65, credited toward your order if you book within 60 days of the tasting.
7. WEDDING CAKES {#wedding-cakes}
How long does the wedding cake process take from inquiry to delivery?
Typical timeline:
- 6-12 months out — first inquiry, consultation, and quote
- 3-6 months out — design finalization, deposit paid, date confirmed
- 30 days out — design and flavors locked; major changes require new quote
- 7-14 days out — balance due, final logistics (venue contact, delivery time)
- Wedding day — delivery and setup at venue
Do you do tastings for weddings?
Yes — a paid tasting is part of our wedding cake consultation flow when logistics allow. The fee is $65, credited toward your order if you book within 60 days.
Can the cake match my wedding theme exactly?
Yes — wedding cakes are the most personalized thing we make. Share your color palette, venue style, flower choices, and overall aesthetic, and we’ll design to match. Many couples share Pinterest boards or moodboards as reference.
What about fresh flowers on the cake?
We do not source live florals (food-safety considerations with floral pesticides). If you want fresh flowers, they’ll come from your florist, and we coordinate placement at delivery.
We also offer sugar flowers (handmade, edible), which we make in-house — these are an additional cost but a stunning alternative.
Can you deliver the cake to my venue?
Yes — we deliver to venues across Hampton Roads. Delivery is itemized as a separate line on your wedding cake quote (mileage-based from Newport News, $20 minimum). For venues outside Hampton Roads, we calculate the trip and quote it case-by-case.
What happens if there’s a mishap at delivery?
We carry the cake on a flat, level surface in a temperature-controlled vehicle. Transit damage is rare. If something does happen, we attempt on-site repair (we bring extra buttercream and tools for exactly this); for major issues, we have a contingency plan documented in your order confirmation.
What about anniversary cakes?
Many of our wedding couples make a tradition of an anniversary cake — same flavor as the wedding, smaller, just for the two of you. We send an automatic reminder 11 months after your wedding with an anniversary-cake offer at a discount.
8. MODIFICATIONS & CHANGES {#modifications-changes}
Can I change my order after I’ve placed it?
Yes, up to 7 days before your event for most changes:
| Change | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Flavor, frosting, or filling | 7 days before event |
| Color or design notes (simple) | 7 days before event |
| Quantity increase | 7 days before event (subject to capacity; deposit on additional units may be required) |
| Event date | Before work begins on your order (see §2 for dates by product) — see “What if I need to reschedule?” below |
| Custom cake design (after quote approved) | Major design changes require a new quote |
Quantity decreases are not available after the deposit is paid (the deposit on the full original quantity is retained).
All modifications must be confirmed in writing — verbal changes are not effective until we reply confirming.
How do I request a change?
Email erinn@designsbyerinn.com with your order number and the change you want. We confirm in writing within 24 hours.
What if I need to reschedule my event?
Rescheduling depends on whether work has begun on your order. The “work begins” date is in your order confirmation email (see the deposit-refund timing in §2 — same dates apply):
- Before work begins — we move your order to a new date and apply your deposit and any balance paid to the rescheduled order. No fee.
- After work begins — the order cannot be rescheduled. Ingredients have already been purchased and labor invested, and our products are perishable. The original event date stands.
Email us as soon as you know your plans may change — earlier is always better.
For force majeure events (weather, illness, family emergency) — we work in good faith and handle case-by-case.
See also: Cancellation & Refund Policy
What if I need to cancel?
It depends on timing relative to your event:
- Before “work begins” on your order → full deposit refund (5-7 business days to your original payment method)
- After “work begins” but more than 48 hours before event → deposit forfeited; balance refunded if paid
- Within 48 hours of event → both deposit and balance forfeited (unless special handling applies for medical, weather, or family emergency)
The “work begins” date is in your order confirmation email. When in doubt, email us before you cancel — a 2-minute message can be the difference between a full refund and a forfeited deposit.
What if something is wrong with my order?
Email us within 24 hours of pickup or delivery at erinn@designsbyerinn.com with the subject “Quality Issue — Order #[number]” and include:
- Order number
- Description of the issue
- 2-3 photos taken before the cake is cut or served
- Photos of the packaging (if a transit issue is the concern)
We’ll review and propose a resolution — replacement (if feasible), partial refund, full refund of the affected item, or credit toward a future order. Most quality issues are resolved within 1-2 business days.
Claims after 24 hours, or without photos, may not be honored. We can’t reconstruct what happened to a cake we’ve never seen.
9. ABOUT THE BAKERY {#about-the-bakery}
Are you a real bakery or a home kitchen?
Designs By Erinn LLC operates as a Virginia cottage bakery from a home kitchen under Virginia Cottage Food Law §3.2-5130. This means:
- Our kitchen is not licensed or inspected by VDACS or the Virginia Department of Health (this is required disclosure under the law).
- Erinn holds a ServSafe Manager certification — the same credential required of commercial kitchen managers, covering food safety, allergen handling, and sanitation.
- We are not a retail storefront — every order is by booking, no walk-ins.
- We can deliver across the state of Virginia, and we focus on Hampton Roads.
The cottage-food framework is how many premium custom bakeries operate in Virginia.
Who runs Designs By Erinn?
Erinn Gibson — owner, baker, designer, and the person who replies to your email. Read more on the About page.
What’s your service area?
Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, York County, and Poquoson. Outside this area, we consider case-by-case for larger events — email us.
How can I leave a review?
If you’ve ordered from us, we’d love a review:
- Google Business Profile (primary) — best place to leave a public review
- Facebook — also welcome
- The Knot or WeddingWire — for wedding clients
Reviews help other people planning events find us. If something wasn’t right with your order, please tell us directly first (email erinn@designsbyerinn.com) — we’d rather make it right than read it in a review.
QUICK-REFERENCE SUMMARY (footer of FAQ page)
| Lead time | 1 week standard / 2-4 weeks custom / 60 days weddings |
|---|---|
| Deposit | 50% to confirm; balance due 7 days before event |
| Service area | Hampton Roads (8 cities) |
| Allergens | Dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts always present — severe allergies, call first |
| Cancellation | Before “work begins” = full refund; after = deposit forfeited |
| Quality issues | 24 hours to report with photos |
| erinn@designsbyerinn.com |
SEO METADATA
- Meta title (49 chars): FAQ | Designs By Erinn — Hampton Roads Bakery
- Meta description (158 chars): Lead times, pricing, allergens, delivery, modifications, and the custom cake process — answered. Hampton Roads bakery serving 8 cities across Virginia.
- Focus keyphrase (RankMath): custom cake faq
- Secondary keyphrases: hampton roads bakery lead time, custom cake allergens virginia, cottage bakery hampton roads faq, wedding cake virginia faq
- Canonical: https://designsbyerinn.com/faq/
OPEN GRAPH
- OG title: FAQ | Designs By Erinn — Hampton Roads Bakery
- OG description: Everything you need to know about ordering, delivery, allergens, and the custom cake process.
- OG image: 1200×630 — warm kitchen detail (Luma deliverable)
SCHEMA MARKUP (FAQPage — Rank Math auto-generates from Gutenberg FAQ block)
For Kael at build: use the Gutenberg FAQ block for each question/answer pair so Rank Math emits the FAQPage schema automatically. After publish, validate the URL in Google’s Rich Results Test — every Q/A should appear as a FAQ entity.
If hand-coded instead of using the block:
“json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How far in advance do I need to order?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Lead times by product: Cupcakes, Cake Pops, Dessert Party Packs need 1 week. Custom Cakes (single tier) need 2 weeks. Sweet Tables and Candy Tables need 2 weeks. Custom Cakes (multi-tier) need 4 weeks. Wedding Cakes need 60 days (30 days possible at our discretion). During peak months (May, June, October, November, December), book 8-12 weeks ahead." } } / ...repeat for each of the 36 questions / ] } “
INTERNAL LINKING MAP
| Target | Anchor | Placement |
|---|---|---|
/contact/ | contact form | Topic 1, Topic 5 |
/shop/ | shop | Topic 2 |
/terms/ | Terms of Service | Topic 1, Topic 2 |
/cancellation-policy/ | Cancellation & Refund Policy | Topic 2, Topic 8 (twice) |
/allergen-information/ | Allergen Information | Topic 3 (twice) |
/about/ | About page | Topic 9 |
External: law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/3.2-5130/ | Virginia Cottage Food Law §3.2-5130 | Topic 9 |
| External: GBP review URL | Google Business Profile review link | Topic 9 (held until live) |
FINAL VERIFICATION CHECKLIST (Erinn / Angel)
- Google Business Profile review URL — once GBP is live, replace the “Google Business Profile” link target in Topic 9
- Founding year — Confirmed 2019. Optional: add “Since 2019” to Topic 9 answer if desired.
- Tasting fee — Confirmed $65 with 60-day order credit. Topics 6 and 7 updated.
- ServSafe Manager certification — Confirmed 2026-05-26. Added to Topic 3 (allergens) and Topic 9 (about the bakery). Ask Erinn for cert number or expiration date if she wants it on site.
- Email address active — confirm
erinn@designsbyerinn.comis provisioned (see Contact page checklist for unified email decision) - OG image asset — Luma deliverable
CHANGE LOG — 2026-05-28 (Angel review pass)
- Delivery model corrected: mileage-based, $20 minimum from Newport News. Applies to ALL delivered orders including sweet/candy tables (which include setup in the per-guest price but charge delivery separately) and wedding cakes (itemized line on the quote).
- Removed $50 rescheduling fee — replaced with hard rule: rescheduling allowed before “work begins”; not allowed after (perishable products, ingredients purchased).
- Removed flat redelivery fee — replaced with case-by-case handling.
- Added two new questions: “How much does delivery cost?” (§4) and “Is there a minimum order?” (§4).
- Service area: confirmed all 8 cities (Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, York County, Poquoson).
- Tasting credit: confirmed 60-day window for crediting $65 toward booked order.
- Anniversary reminder: kept the policy — PRE-LAUNCH TASK: build the Klaviyo automation (11-month trigger after wedding cake order, sends discount offer for anniversary cake). Klaviyo connection still pending Erinn’s API key.